Monkeypox outbreak in Nigerian amid Covid-19 upsurge

BREAKING NEWS: MONKEYPOX OUTBREAK IN NIGERIA, 15 CONFIRMED CASES.

The Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), DrChikwe Ihekweazu said Nigeria has registered 59 suspected cases of Monkeypox with 15 confirmed cases on Tuesday, July 19, 2021.

Dr. Ihekweazu was reacting to the Dallas, Texas resident who recently returned from Nigeria and tested positive to the disease.
A UK- based Nigerian doctor, Dr Harvey Olufunmilayo, gave a vivid description of the Monkeypox on his Twitter page.

Here are things you need to know about the disease aptly put out by the medical practitioner.

So, what is MonkeyPox?

It is a rare viral infection occurring primarily in remote parts of Central/West Africa, including Nigeria, near the tropical rainforest. It is a viral zoonosis ( a disease transmitted from animals to humans) because it was first seen in monkeys.

Causes of MonkeyPox

Monkeypox disease is caused by infection with the Monkeypox virus.

Its virus is an Orthopoxvirus which includes Variola virus (the cause of Smallpox), so MonkeyPox and Smallpox are quite similar. But thankfully, MonkeyPox is milder than Smallpox.

Common Signs and symptoms of MonkeyPox are;

Fever
Headache
Muscle aches
Backache
Swollen lymph nodes
Armpit and Groin Swellings
Chills
Tiredness
Skin Rashes/vesicles

The fever starts first, then after 1-3 days development of a rash, first on the face then spread everywhere.

Is there treatment for MonkeyPox?
NO! There are no specific treatments, vaccines and cure for the it. But anyone who had been vaccinated against Smallpox is about 85% protected. This is because the causative agents of Smallpox and Monkeypox are in a similar group called orthopoxvirus. Unfortunately, the Smallpox vaccine is no longer available to the general public because it was discontinued following global Smallpox Eradication in 1977.

Since there is no specific treatment or vaccines for MonkeyPox, the public health policy focuses on PREVENTION.
The disease can be prevented through the following measures;

👉🏾Avoid close physical contact with infected persons.
👉🏾 Health workers must wear personal protective equipment when taking care of infected persons and this care should NEVER be at home but a hospital.

👉🏾Regular proper hand washing should be done after caring for or visiting sick people.
👉🏾STOP buying roadside bushmeat as it is highly risky since you cannot tell if the animal is infected or not. Best to buy from a reputable hygienic abbatoir/store.

👉🏾IF you have to buy bushmeat, pls make sure you thoroughly cook it well before eating.

👉🏾Hunters and butchers should please wear appropriate protective clothing while handling animals or the meat, and during slaughtering.
Remember:
IF you see this rash, report to the hospital immediately.
But PREVENTION is the key!
Source:@DrOlufunmilayo